Three-dimensional modeling of etched groove separation of adjacent optical waveguides

Abstract

Using the three-dimensional explicit finite-difference beam propagation method, we investigate the effect of placing an etched groove in the region separating the two rib waveguides of a directional coupler. The purpose of the groove is to inhibit channel interaction. We concentrate on the calculation of the groove depth necessary for channel isolation. We also show that the application of the groove can be accompanied by a small power loss. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 23: 289–291, 1999.